Q&A with The June Motel's Co-Founder Sarah Sklash
Friends April Brown and Sarah Sklash took a leap of faith when they quit their secure but boring desk jobs to pursue the millennial dream of becoming their own bosses. Despite not having any motelier business experience, Sarah and April launched The June, a roadside boutique motel in the heart of Ontario’s Prince Edward County, in 2016.
Unlike other motels in the area, The June is known for its curated, retro-inspired design—think earthy colors, natural materials, and mid-century modernist furniture. The region itself is known for its sprawling vineyards, natural wineries, and stunning turquoise beaches, making Prince Edward County a must-visit Canadian tourist destination.
Today, April and Sarah not only have a second June location in Sauble Beach but the duo was recently featured on Netflix’s Motel Makeover.
We spoke with Sarah about the early days of the business, June’s vision for the future, and everything in between.
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Sarah Sklash
Who is behind The June Motel?
That would be us—April and Sarah, just two best friends who have a love for discovering new travel destinations, good wine, and beautiful design.
What did you do before launching your own business?
We actually both had stable corporate 9-5 jobs. April worked for a PR agency and I was a project manager for the Ontario government. We were both based in Toronto, and as you can probably imagine, motelier life was certainly not on our radar!
How did your journey in hospitality begin?
It started back in 2016 when we got together to brainstorm business ideas over a bottle of wine. We were excited at the prospect of starting an adult wine summer camp—we originally imagined it as a side hustle where we’d host weekend retreats in Prince Edward County. We always flirted with the idea of quitting our jobs and starting something together, but the timing was never right. But in 2016 we finally decided to take the plunge. We grew our vision, quit our jobs, and made the leap into the world of motels, purchasing our first motel in Prince Edward County!
What inspired you to start a motel?
While searching for the perfect venue for our weekend retreat concept, I stumbled upon a roadside motel for sale in Prince Edward County. It was dingy, so we originally thought we’d just restyle the motel for our weekend retreats. But then it hit us: “why not just buy the motel?”—and that’s exactly what we did! We grew our vision and business plan, and got serious. A week later we met with the realtor and six months later we moved into the motel and began renovating. The rest is history!
Is there any specific meaning behind the name The June Motel?
The name came to us during one of our brainstorming sessions over a glass of wine. We loved the concept from the beginning—it’s a retro name that was popular in the 1960s, an era we get a lot of design inspiration from. As for the reference to the month, June just reminded us of the early days of summer and all those positive feelings associated with that time of year: warm weather, long, sunny days, outdoor activities. We were really trying to tap into that feeling of excitement when the whole summer is ahead of you. This is the impression we hope our guests feel upon rolling up to The June!
What attracted you to Prince Edward County and Sauble Beach?
We were already fans of Prince Edward County, before we even found the motel. We loved getting out of the city and spending our weekends in The County drinking great wine, eating delicious food, and experiencing everything the region has to offer, so stumbling upon the Prince Edward County motel felt quite serendipitous.
We had a few properties in mind when searching for our second location, but the motel in Sauble Beach captured our hearts. Since our passion is reinventing the motel experience, we saw the potential to completely restore the Sauble Beach location to its former glory. Plus, we were seriously crushing on the retro beach town vibes and all the turquoise blue swimming holes along the Bruce Peninsula—that was the cherry on top.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when opening your first location, and was it easier opening the second location after gaining experience with the first?
We didn’t have any prior experience in the motel industry or with big renovations, but that didn’t stop us. Although the Sauble Beach motel was bigger, more difficult, and more expensive than our first motel in Prince Edward County, we felt more knowledgeable the second time around. Although we couldn't anticipate the challenges we’d face during the COVID-19 pandemic, we still managed to work through them.
Where would your dream location for The June Motel be?
I have always dreamed of a June Motel ski resort, while April has always dreamed of having a motel in California’s wine country.
When’s the best time of year to visit the motel?
It depends what kind of experience you’re looking for! If your perfect vacation entails lying on the beach or spending a day poolside soaking up the sun, then peak summer is for you. We love September and early October because Prince Edward County and Sauble Beach are particularly beautiful in the fall—the weather is still warm during the days and the leaves are just starting to turn different colors. Sitting fireside with a glass of red wine is super cozy, too!
How would you best describe the type of guests that visit The June—are there a few defining characteristics?
The typical guest knows what The June is; they’re already familiar with the brand and it aligns with their tastes and interests. We want our guests to escape to a beautiful place where they can enjoy the simple things in life, sip chilled rosé, sit fireside, and experience all the good vibes.
How would you best describe the motel’s design aesthetic?
Retro, bold, playful, and curated.
What sets The June Motel apart from other motels in the area?
We pride ourselves on our customer service—we want all of our guests to feel like June is a familiar friend, one who is warm and hospitable, has all of the best local recommendations, and can help with literally anything.
What has it been like having a show on Netflix and how did it come about?
It has been an incredible, wild ride! We’re extremely grateful for this opportunity and have learned so much on this Netflix journey. The creator and director of Motel Makeover, Jessica Nahmias (a friend of our graphic designer), booked a stay when we first opened in 2017. She’s someone who understood what we were all about from the very beginning—she knew that The June was more than just a motel, and that we had a unique story to tell. We reconnected in 2019 over dinner in downtown Toronto and discussed plans for our second motel in Sauble Beach.